Category: why can’t i be you

In general I’m always a bit dubious about models as stylistic inspiration as I can never really trust if it’s their wardrobe I want or their crazy-good genes (this does not include mentalist Hanne Gaby, who as I’ve said before, has an amazing wardrobe but does look a lot like a dinosaur), but #unpopularopinion – I ‘m not actually an Aldridge #stan at all so I can let myself off on this one.

As with all of my WCIBY crushes, Ruby’s style is mostly monochromatic, androgynous and built around staple basics. ALL GD THINGS. Another reason I’m a big fan of her street style is that despite being 8ft 3ins tall and weighing the same as a bag of flour, her sartorial choices aren’t things that can only be carried off by genetic freaks, but are universally wearable (apart from maybe the microscooter).

My latest sartorial girl crush is Carlotta Oddi, major babe and assistant to tits-mental Vogue Nippon editor Anna della Russo. Stylistically, (and for her sake, I hope mentally, have you seen the ‘Fashion Shower’ video?) the polar opposite of AdR, Carlotta’s outfits encompass all of my favourite things – heavy menswear and streetwear influences, prints, I also love that unlike a lot of high-profile streetstyle favourites, she’s loyal to a piece and not precious about piece repetition – for example, her Opening Ceremony varsity, and Balenciaga leather biker, which when I was considering buying it, upon trying it on made me look more like a badly wrapped barrel, SAD TIMES.

It felt like forever since I punched myself in the face about not being someone else, and then I remembered amazing Essix goff Hannah Marshall.

For the uninitiated, H-Marsh is a Colchester graduated British womenswear designer known for bringing the sexy back to constructed looks, a fondness for leather and her predication for black, black and more black.

Showing since 2007, celebrity fans include Erin O’Connor, Naomi Campbell, Florence Welch, and Stephen Fry Romy off the xx, amongst others. As you would imagine, her personal style is a mirror of her designs – constructed layering, and all black everything. I mostly wear black, there’s just something about a full black look that feels really clean, but one thing I’m always a bit conscious of is looking like some sort of Bedouin encampment when you can’t distinguish between layers at a distance the way you can if you’re wearing colour. Hannah goes to show that all black looks don’t have to swamp, and also that you don’t have to be 8 ft 9 and having a good time for them to look good. Also, that fringe! This is the kind of fringe I always ask for, yet never get. All I want in life is to not come out of the hairdressers looking like Lisa from Girl bloody Uninterrupted, but apparently this is unattainable. I swear they all just take advantage of the fact I don’t have my glasses on. ANYWAY, NICE CLOTHES AND THAT.

Contrary to what this blog might imply, I don’t spend all my time wishing I was other people. If I did that I wouldn’t have time for my other hobby – eating.

Anyway, Vika is a womenswear designer off of Russia. She began showing in SS07, following a stint as fashion assistant at Russian L’Officiel and a year spent freelance styling. Her designs are, as you can imagine from her personal style, feature very classic, clean shapes, innately feminine without being fussy or overtly sexy.

The 31 year old, like my other obsession Anya Ziourova, is is part of the new breed of Russian style obsessives breaking down the Russian fashionista stereotype of WAGs in micro minks, Fendi sandals and Louis Vuitton everything. Vika is at Paris Fashion Week this season, I’m as excited for the actual show as I am for photos of her out and about.

One of the most striking models of the past decade and signed to agency powerhouse SUPREME, Hanne walked a whopping 55 shows in AW12 and holds the unofficial title of The Only Interesting Thing To Ever Come Out Of Belgium. Hanne is as famous for her fashionable turns off the catwalk as much as on. Hanne has a rep for wearing the most outlandish and seemably unwearable looks without looking like she’s cursing a poor over-excitable PR in her head. Remember her in Comme a few weeks ago?

My favourite Hanne looks are where she’s more understated, and requires a lot less ironing.

Signed to IMG London, you may recognise Tilda’s Swedish face from the SS13 Chloe and Valentino campaigns.

What I love about Tilda’s style is that it’s easy. She’s a prime example of the age old addage ‘it’s not what you wear, but how you wear it.’ Every look is incredibly accessible, and although each item is probably *~”vintage”~*, they could also be easily sourced on the high street. Whilst her look is definitely more hangover than haute couture, there’s definitely a place for this in the world, and a good hangover look needs love too. Also, as we know from my paean to Anya Ziourova, I can’t ignore a dungaree.

Anya Ziourova is one of them fashiony people with a finger in many (low carb) fashion pies. Starting off at American Vogue, AZ then moved onto Japanese and Chinese Vogue, where she was Fashion Assistant, then Stylist, from whence she moved on to become a regular contributor and eventual Fashion Director of Russian Tatler, where she also began as Creative Fashion Consultant at Russian Allure. She’s also contributed to eight flavours of Vogue, worked with major babes like Mia Wasikowska, Monica Bellucci and Lou Doillon and consulted for brands including Ben Sherman (and weirdly, John Lewis). And…breathe.

Regardless of her many actual talents, Anya is always guaranteed to be one of the most photographed over Fashion Month. I love the androgyny of her style, from leather dungarees to pyjama suits, there’s a boyish playfulness to her outfit choices, even a skirt is usually paired with an amorphous or masculine tailored top of jacket. When I finally decide to stop dressing like a school boy, rather than the 22 year old girl I actually am, I’m hoping I can come somewhere close to this. Let’s hope I’m earning quite a bit more by then…